Sermons on Close Encounter:

The Church Boss Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Apr 11, 2010

If Christ is the head of the church, no bullying can ever be justified to bring about the result a leader desires. We must permit the Spirit of God to rule the church, and not mere mortals.

“I have written something to the church, but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority. So if I come, I will bring up what he is doing, talking wicked nonsense against us. And not content with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers, and also stops those who ...read more

Scripture: 3 John 1:9-12

Denomination: Baptist

'twas The Prayer Before Christmas

Contributed by Michael Stark on Dec 5, 2006

The prayer that changed the world.

LUKE 1:5-25 ‘TWAS THE PRAYER BEFORE CHRISTMAS In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, of the division of Abijah. And he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:5-26

Denomination: Baptist

Tithing Series

Contributed by Mohan Thomas on Dec 7, 2006

There is so many misunderstandings in Christian world about Tithing and I would like to remove it by this sermon.

1-INTRODUCTION It seems so few people these days give tithes, offerings, and alms, yet they profess to be walking with God. This applies to people all over the world. By their actions, they deny Him. Every person is to give 10% of their total income to God. This is called a tithe. Tithing is a ...read more

Scripture: Malachi 3:8-9

Denomination: Pentecostal

For Better And Forever Series

Contributed by Brian Bill on Dec 13, 2005

In the famous “love passage” that is read at most weddings, 1 Corinthians 13 helps us understand what love is and what it looks like in daily life. Love is not primarily a feeling but an action. The kind of love that you and I are called to demonstrate

For Better and Forever 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 Rev. Brian Bill 12/4/05 Pastor Dick sure did a great job preaching on parenting last week! Isn’t it a blessing that both he and Pastor Jeff are such effective preachers? During the sermon I was convicted of the many ways that I fall short and was ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:1-13

Denomination: Baptist

A Reward For Obedience

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jan 15, 2008

There is a closer tie between our view of children and our view of God than we might ever suspect.

EXODUS 1:1-21 A REWARD FOR OBEDIENCE “These are the names of the sons of Israel who came to Egypt with Jacob, each with his household: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin, Dan and Naphtali, Gad and Asher. All the descendants of Jacob were seventy persons; Joseph was ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 1:1-21

Denomination: Baptist

What To Do When Someone Sins Against You Series

Contributed by Brian Bill on Nov 25, 2006

When someone sins against us, we’re to talk first, then take others, then tell it to church, then treat as an unbeliever. But goal is always restoration.

What to Do When Someone Sins Against You Matthew 18:15-17 Rev. Brian Bill 11/26/06 One Sunday morning a wife tried to wake her husband up for church. He kept his eyes closed and said, “I don’t want to go to church; they don’t like me there.” She tried again, this time pleading with him to get ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 18:15-17

Denomination: Baptist

"Not For The Nation Only"

Contributed by Clark Tanner on Oct 8, 2010

God often uses the utterings of evil men to announce His own purposes. They think they are in control but they are not.

“Therefore the chief priests and the Pharisees convened a council, and were saying, “What are we doing? For this man is performing many signs. 48 “If we let Him go on like this, all men will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our ...read more

Scripture: John 11:47-53

Denomination: Orthodox

The Way Of All The Earth

Contributed by Gordon Curley on Nov 21, 2010

The Way of All the Earth (PowerPoint slides to accompany this talk are available on request - email: gcurley@gcurley.info)

Reading: Chapters 23 & 24. Ill: You know that you are getting old when: • When everything that works hurts, and what doesn’t hurt doesn’t work. • Your try to straighten out the wrinkles in your socks and discover you aren't wearing any. • You look forward ...read more

Denomination: Brethren

The Judgment Seat Of Christ

Contributed by Gordon Curley on Nov 29, 2010

The Judgment Seat of Christ. (PowerPoint slides to accompany this talk are available on request - email: gcurley@gcurley.info)

Reading: • Matthew chapter 25 verses 14-30. • 2 Corinthians chapter 5 verses 9-10. Ill: • Two dads were having a drink together; • And conversation turned to their children and their children’s school-work. • The first dad said; “I helped my daughter ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:9-10

Denomination: Brethren

Give Worship Series

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Nov 29, 2009

We are to Give Worship to God because 1) Our Souls have been given to God and 2) Our bodies, 3) Our minds, and 4) Our wills should be given as well.

As 2009 approaches its final weeks we see the wrap of not only a year but of the first decade of the Millennium. The greed of the 80’s resulted in caution being thrown to the wind in the 90’s resulting in the bottom falling out of the last ten years (the 00’s?). When people en mass strove to ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:1-2

Denomination: Other

Messiah Was Presented, But Few Were Ready Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Dec 6, 2009

It is startling that so few people anticipated the Advent of God’s Messiah. However, few look for His presence today; and few will be anticipating His return.

LUKE 2:22-38 MESSIAH WAS PRESENTED, BUT FEW WERE PREPARED “When the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, ‘Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:22-38

Denomination: Baptist

Lesson 2 : Truncated History Series

Contributed by Rolland Bouchard on Dec 10, 2009

A very truncated look at the history of christianity. This message presupposes that many people believe restoration history bypasses the reformation and catholicism. However, it is unhealthy to not acknowlege our past. Instead we ought to embrace it.

HISTORY: Very, Very Truncated. “In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe.” Hebrews 1:1 In trying to better ...read more

Scripture: Acts 3:2

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Promise Of Life

Contributed by Bishop Johnathan Hester on Dec 18, 2009

There is that precious, opportunistic moment; when a gentle hand by a touch on the shoulder is able to magically remove the sting of failure from the midst of defeat,,, There is something about a shoulder that invites attention when we are slumped in sorr

Deut: The Promise of Life STATING THE SCRIPTURES (Deuteronomy 30:1-20) When all these blessings and curses I have set before you come upon you and you take them to heart wherever the LORD your God disperses you among the nations, and when you and your children return to the LORD your God and ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 30:1-20

Denomination: Apostolic

This Is My Body Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Mar 23, 2009

A meditation on the meaning of Christ’s sacrifice as we prepare to share at the Lord’s Table.

MATTHEW 26:26 “THIS IS MY BODY” “As they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, ‘Take, eat; this is My body.’” “The Body of Christ,” mumbles the priest as he places a wafer on the tongue of each worshipper. Those participating in ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 26:26

Denomination: Baptist

"Yes!" Means Yes. "No!" Means No. Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Mar 23, 2009

Say what you mean, and mean what you say.

JAMES 5:12 “YES” MEANS YES; “NO” MEANS NO! “Above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your ‘yes’ be yes and your ‘no’ be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation.” “His word is his bond” was a common saying about people of integrity ...read more

Scripture: James 5:12

Denomination: Baptist